Newcastle Community Cinema
34 Main Street, Newcastle, County Down. BT33 0AE. NIC:102474
Trustees’ Report 2022
Period of report: 1 January 2022 to 30 December 2022
NCC Charity Trustees
NCC’s Trustees during the reporting period are:
Chairman Mr Rob Manley Treasurer Ms Felicia Matheson Secretary Mr Matthew Grainger Trustee Dr Lucy Royal-Dawson
No other trustees served in this year.
How is the charity constituted and our governing document
Newcastle Community Cinema is a constituted charitable organisation operating under its Constitution dated 10 February 2022. The governing document was altered in February 2022 to include a new power to employ paid staff for the furtherance of our purposes.
Summary description of our purposes
The Charity’s objects are specifically restricted to the following:
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a) To promote film, cinema, the arts and culture by:-
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i. establishing and managing premises as a cinema, arts centre and a cultural and social amenity;
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ii. organising, promoting and delivering a programme of film, film-related events, arts and cultural events, including without limitation, film screenings, concerts, performances, workshops, exhibitions and discussions;
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iii. advancing the education of the public in the knowledge and understanding of film and cinema, and arts and culture more broadly.
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b) To provide facilities and activities independently and by association with other entities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and other leisure activities with the object of improving community cohesion and the conditions of life of members of the public.
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c) To promote these and other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined for public benefit to wide and diverse audiences in Newcastle, Co. Down and its environs without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion.
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d) To advance environmental protection and conservation in our charitable purposes by promoting:-
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i. recycling and sustainable waste management;
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ii. sustainable means of operating and developing our charitable purposes.
Activities for the public benefit in 2022
Public cultural events
Animé Double Bill March 2022
NCC held its first double-bill screening in March. Dedicated to animé, the event was Japanese-themed and attracted hardcore fans who came from near and far.
Eco Film Festival June 2022
Teaming up with a local climate change awareness group called Dolmens Climate Action Network, NCC held a three-day film festival of climate crisis-themed film with discussion or activity and hosted a Repair Café.
Newcastle Hallowtides Festival October 2022
NCC took up the reins for the first time to run the annual Halloween town-wide festival in Newcastle utilising a grant from Newry Mourne & Down District Council. Local shops and businesses displayed scarecrows at their premises as part of a Competition and there was a street party including a music stage, fancy dress competition, a firework display from the beach, street entertainers and several Halloween-themed film events.
Full Moon Film Festival November 2022
In November 2022, we ran our annual film festival, screening 25 films over a two week period, attracting good audience numbers and feedback. The programme included screenings for schools and stop-motion and animated film workshops for children. We received sponsorship from local businesses to fund the event.
Special Screenings
Teaming up with NI Science Festival, BFI Collective and the local Eats and Beats Music and Food Festival, we screened films to tie in with concurrent community and national events.
Regular Screenings
NCC’s regular screening profile expanded twicefold due to arrival of the new Venue Manager whose full-time status allows daytime screenings – see below. The additions to the regular screenings are Silver Screen to encourage seniors, Toddler Club for parents and toddlers and Baby-Friendly for parents with babes-in-arms. The monthly screening schedule was also expanded in March by the introduction of screenings for families living with neuro-diversity through the collaboration with Autism Support Kilkeel additionally supported by a grant from Arnold Clark.
Additional events of public benefit
Awareness-raising events
NCC worked with several local groups wishing to hold awareness-raising events around important social issues such as the cost of living crisis, suicide awareness, PSNI & PCSP Coffee with the Cops and health matters with the local GP surgery.
Lyric Theatre Production
We hosted an eco-themed play from the schools production team of the Lyric attracting young audiences.
NCC Markets
Every month, we held NCC Markets indoors and outside giving local entrepreneurial producers and craftspeople a location to sell their wares and produce.
Regular hires
Our regular hall users expanded to five weekly classes.
Volunteer mobilisation
We run with the support of a strong volunteer base and offer opportunities for people to get involved in running a cinema and community events. Our base started to increase in 2022 with several younger volunteers enlisting to help out.
Achievements of NCC
Staffing
NCC was successful in its application to Department for Communities Art Work Programme to fund a full-time member of staff for three years, ending 30 June 2025. The Venue Manager post was advertised with interviews taking place in June. The new recruit joined in July 2022. The oversight and management of the premises and activities by a dedicated member of staff saw an immediate increase in activity and use of the premises.
Infrastructural improvements
New lights for the stage were installed. A second-hand Digital Cinema Projector was donated to NCC. Plans to install it were started as it requires internal structural work.
Fundraising
We recruited a fundraising consultant to scope available grants and develop a funding strategy. This was delivered in July 2022 and formed the basis for the development of a ‘fighting fund’ to raise money to replace the heating system, as outlined in our Strategic Plan. We received a grant from Arnold Clark to support neuro-diverse screenings and a film exhibition grant from Film Hub NI to support the installation of the new projector.
Reserves Policy
The Reserves Policy remains active and we continue to hold a reserve to address any future short-fall due to unforeseen closure and to cover emergency repairs to high-value essential equipment.
Declaration
As Trustees of NCC, we declare that we have had regard of the Charities Commission of Northern Ireland guidance on public benefit and hereby report on the activities that have been carried out to further NCC’s purposes for the public benefit.
Trustees’ signatures and positions
Robert Manley Chairman 29 August 2023
Matthew Grainger Secretary 29 August 2023
Felicia Matheson Treasurer 29 August 2023
________ Lucy Royal-Dawson Trustee 29 August 2023